A Seasonal Guide To Utah's Best Spots For Outdoor Photography

Anytime of year is a good time to bust out your photography gear and capture the beauty of Utah's stunning landscapes. But you want to know the best time to shoot so you can do these epic spots justice, don't you? That's why we've broken things down for you by season so you can plan your photography adventures throughout the whole year.

The Mormon pioneers that settled this area planted sheer beauty when they planted apple orchards in the desert. Every March - early April, you can drive into the park and stop off in Fruita where you will see "popcorn popping" on the apple trees. You know how it works: stake out your spot to shoot at sunrise or sunset to get the most dramatic shots. Learn more.

From June to August, you'll be swooning over lupine, bluebells, red paintbrush, columbine, penstemon, and more alpine flowers. Add to that the high likelihood of spotting Rocky Mountain goats plus a babbling river along the way and you've got yourself a photo studio that no technician could ever replicate. Learn more.

Photography is just a cover for what you really want to do--bundle up in your favorite wool sweater, pack a picnic and rejoice over the first signs of reds, oranges and yellows up this perfectly charming canyon. And since it's just outside a college town, you'll catch the I-wish-I-could-go-back-to-school bug...until you realize that the students are stressing out about class and midterms while you're taking photos of the beautiful canyon. Well played, well played. Learn more.

There's a reason why you brought your camera to Bryce Canyon--words will fall short of what your eyes are beholding. The contrast. The contrast. The contrast. Snow on orange creamy hoodoos? It's just crazy. I mean, this is supposed to be the desert? Knock the socks off of your faithful fans when you wake up early for a sunrise over Thor's Hammer or Queen's Garden. And the amphitheater? Like I said, no words. Learn more.

These salty flatlands with their dramatic mountains in the distance are gorgeously minimal all year long. Put a brightly-clad model in the center, wait for a storm to leave behind reflective shallow pools or stay up all night and set up your gear for some epic astrophotography. Learn more.

Get more information on these adventures and others around Utah at Utah.com.

Please respect the places you find on The Outbound.

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures. Be aware of local regulations and don't damage these amazing places for the sake of a photograph. Learn More

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!